New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

With the launch of Mister Marvelous, Byredo’s founder, Ben Gorham, has chosen to highlight a male figure who currently embodies his idea of this fragrance. The first ever Mister Marvelous features world renowned hair stylist Christiaan Houtenbos.

Marvelous is a grand word, is it not? As it rolls off the tongue, it feels quite like it means. And it has history; France’s post- revolutionary dandies called their equally exquisite ladies Les Marveileuses. Marvelous means wonderful, exquisite, and as- tonishing. With a bit of strangeness as well – as indicated by the old Latin mirabilis. A marvelous thing must be strange in that it must be like nothing else.

Re: New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

I'm wearing a sample of this today - At its heart, it's a very heavy, burnt ammonia kind of smell (the direction Byredo's been going with M/Ink and their two ouds - or, if you can imagine something like Black Afgano but more harsh and chemical), with what I personally find to be a very out-of-place sweet bright citrus on top. It's quite interesting as a concept piece, but I'm not sure I like it that much. But it has kept me sniffing...

Re: New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

Hits the nose with the pungency of sulphur dioxide. Great if you like the rasping odour of those woody-amber chemicals (karanal, timberol), which I do. Sweetened up a bit with orangeflower or similar but is still very bold. It's crude and primitive, with an impact like tear gas. Ridiculous price, but not bad

Re: New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

To my nose Mister Marvelous smells just like Burberry's The Beat. I think cedarwood is the only common official note, but maybe they didn't write out all the stuff they put in. Kingofengland above lists the chemicals karanal and timberol, I wonder if those are ingredients in The Beat as well?

Anyhow a very linear scent. If you like it the first 5 min, you will like it for the rest of the duration -- unless you get bored with the lack of development. I'm only in my second hour as I write, so I cannot say anything about longevity.

@Mumsy,

It is not sweet at all. I like that it's dry and stern, but wouldn't mind one more dimension in the experience. Maybe it's there for your nose though.

Re: New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

I remember liking three Byredos that I tried, and this was one of them. Not enough for an impulse buy, but enough to warrant another sniff next time. And I like The Beat (both men's and women's), so it makes sense.

Re: New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

After wearing Mister Marvelous for one day (hence getting used to the base notes) I can appreciate a greater complexity now after reapplying. The Mandarin sticks out.

While wearing Mister Marvelous today, I was reminded of Borneo 1834 by Serge Lutens. I don't know if they share any notes, but maybe they are dry in the same sense if you see what I mean. Maybe my memory is not the best though.

Re: New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

It has the typical harsh woody-ambery base of many modern fragrances (Beyond Paradise For Men, several Baldessarini and many others). Pleasant if you like this kind of vibe but I suggest to try Platinum by I Profumi Del Forte for a more complex take on the same theme...

Re: New Fragrance: Byredo Mister Marvelous

Originally Posted by alfarom

It has the typical harsh woody-ambery base of many modern fragrances (Beyond Paradise For Men, several Baldessarini and many others). Pleasant if you like this kind of vibe but I suggest to try Platinum by I Profumi Del Forte for a more complex take on the same theme...

Do you mean Versilia Platinum? It's the only one I can found (they got samples on Luckyscent). Seems to be a pretty classy perfume house, I had never heard about it. Thanks a lot for the tip!